Dog Sledding in Alberta

Updated October 15, 2025

Bundle up and get ready for a true Alberta winter adventure! Dog sledding as a family is pure winter magic. The crunch of snow, the excitement of the dogs, and the breathtaking scenery create memories to last a lifetime. And it’s incredibly family friendly!

We’ve gone with our kids a couple times, and have rounded up as many spots to go dog sledding in Alberta that we can find!

Land Acknowledgement

This land has welcomed First Nations from across Turtle Island, and settlers and visitors from around the world. Alberta lands are part of Treaties 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10, and the homeland of the Métis.

Alberta Mamas respects and celebrates the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems and cultures of all Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit nations. We are striving to better listen, understand, and learn from the Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing.

We are all Treaty people.

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Alberta Dog Sled Tour Companies

Dog sledding is a super-accessible adventure for the entire family, and an opportunity to connect with nature (and some very happy huskies!). Whether you’re looking for a short, scenic tour, or a full winter adventure, the dog sled tour companies below are ready to welcome you!

Canmore & Kananaskis

• Mad Dog & Englishmen (Instagram, Facebook)
• Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours (Instagram, Facebook)
• Howling Dog Tours (Instagram, Facebook)
• Nakoda Nations Adventures (Instagram, Facebook)

Lake Louise

• Kingmik Dog Sled Tours (Instagram, Facebook)

Jasper

• Cold Fire Creek Dog Sledding (Instagram, Facebook)

Berywn/Peace River

• Whirlwind Acres (Instagram)

Fort McMurray

• Controlled Chaos Mushing (Instagram, Facebook)

Tips for the Best Dog Sledding Experience

A few simple tricks can make your dog sledding adventure in Alberta much more comfortable and fun, especially when temperatures drop!

• Dress for 10 degrees colder than the forecast. You’ll be moving fast and the “dogsled windchill factor” adds up. This could mean:
  • Wear warm boots and bring toe warmers. Just one layer of socks is best to prevent sweaty (and then chilly) feet.
  • Choose mittens over gloves. Your fingers will stay warmer when they can share heat (and you can add a heat pack!).
  • Layer up! Start with a moisture-wicking base, add an insulating mid-layer, and finish with a warm winter coat and snowpants.
  • Cover your face and head. Combine toque, sunglasses, and neck gaiter or go for a balaclava for full-face coverage. Don’t count on the hood of your jacket alone for head-warmth.
• Plan for photos! Bring a camera, or know how to use your phone’s buttons to take photos and video – taking your mitts off mid-ride is no fun!
• Arrive early, eat a snack, and hit the bathroom before heading out. It’s hard to relax and enjoy the ride if you (or the kids) are hungry and rushed.
• Apply sunscreen before leaving home!

When to Go Dog Sledding

Dog sledding in Alberta is typically runs from December to March, depending on snow conditions. Shoulder season in November and April is dependent on autumn snow fall and spring melt, so mid-winter is your best bet for reliable trails.

For the best experience, aim for a mild winter day, but don’t cancel just because it’s cold! With the right gear (especially face coverings and toe warmers) you can comfortably enjoy an outing even at -20°C.

If this is your only winter visit to Alberta, keep in mind that our weather is famously unpredictable! Temperatures can swing from -40°C to above freezing – sometimes in the same week!

If you’re local-“ish”, it’s often best to book your outdoor adventures in Alberta closer to your travel date, once you have a sense of the weather. If you’re planning farther ahead, keep a few indoor back-up plans in mind, or be prepared to reschedule if conditions aren’t great. Flexibility is key for winter adventures in Alberta!

Our Experience with Mad Dogs & Englishmen

We went dog sledding with Mad Dogs & Englishmen on their very last day of the 2020/21 season with our four- and seven-year-olds for an unforgettable adventure. The snow was melting fast, but it was still a chilly day for our noon ride.

Originally, our tour was scheduled to depart from their main base, but warm spring weather had turned the trail to mud. The communication from the team was fantastic, and they quickly arranged an alternative – an upgraded ride at Spray Lakes, where the ice was still frozen and the scenery absolutely stunning.

My husband got to pilot the sled for most of the trip around the lake, with Russ – the “Englishman” himself – guiding us through the tricky start onto the lake. It was an incredible experience!

We were more exposed to the wind than our first dog sledding trip through the trees, but the trade-off was the panoramic mountain views. With no trees in the way, we could see the snowy peaks surrounding the narrow valley, and it truly felt like we were gliding through a postcard.

Mad Dogs & Englishmen is a smaller, family-run outfit, with plenty of commercial experience behind them. The dogs we were sledding with were movie stars! We never got the name of the movie (it was yet to be released, and Russ was locked in on an NDA), but we hope to see the kids’ favourite pups (Peaches and Draco) show up on our screen one day.

Our Experience with Howling Dog Tours

We went dog sledding with Howling Dog Tours in February 2016 with our 2.5 year old, and it was such a memorable family adventure! We met the team at their Canmore office, where we were greeted warmly before hopping into the company van for the drive out to the staging area.

There were about six sleds heading out that morning, each piloted by an experienced guide, and the excitement was contagious. The dogs were friendly and eager to run, and our daughter loved seeing them getting ready to go.

Kiddo and I cuddled up in warm blankets for the bumpy ride while my husband stood at the back to learn how to pilot the sled.

We had a stop half way for delicious chocolate chip cookies, a hot chocolate, and a chance to stretch our legs. It was a great opportunity to visit with the dogs (and where the above photo was taken).

The ride back was fast and fun! The dogs were given the chance to run as fast as they wanted to, and did they ever want to! A professional photo was taken as we crossed a meadow, which was sent it to us by email later in the week.

Howling Dog Tours made everything feel easy, fun, and safe, even with a toddler in tow. It’s a wonderful option for families looking to try dog sledding in Canmore for the first time.